Distillation Or Degassing Patents (Class 208/184)
  • Patent number: 6090273
    Abstract: Used lubricating oil containing unacceptable levels of moisture and ash-forming contaminants is dried and clarified by a process that includes flash drying, heat treating at a temperature within the range of 600.degree.-700.degree. F. for 2-5 hours, and cooling the heat treated oil. Optional internal recycle of the product from each of these steps can help enhance the clarification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Filter Recovery Services (Mid-Altantic, Inc.)
    Inventor: Geza L. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 6004434
    Abstract: A method of treating cleaning solvent used to clean mechanical parts. The method includes adding to the cleaning solvent a treating composition selected from the group of C.sub.5 -C.sub.14 alcohols, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 dials, C.sub.10 -C.sub.14 polyols, and C.sub.4 -C.sub.14 glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof. A further embodiment includes the foregoing plus adding a clarifying agent from the group of aromatic, aliphatic and alkaryl sulfonic acids and sulfonic acid salts, esterified polyols, and alkyl phenol formaldehyde resins capped with alkoxy groups. The solvent is vaporized and condensed to effect recycling thereof without adding substituted quantities of treating composition to the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Corp.
    Inventor: Esfandiar Kiany
  • Patent number: 5980694
    Abstract: An installation for cleaning oil-polluted water, in particular at oil and gas production plants, is provided with a distillation column having a polluted water feed and at least one contact packing above which the outlet of the polluted water feed is located, a vapor discharge, a clean water outlet and a measuring device for the analysis of the water from the clean water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: EMSYS Separation Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus P. Apeldoorn, Jachebus W. Bos, Johannes J. Dozy, Johannes J. Elling, Leonardus C. Gordijn, Pieter Ottens, Wayne S. Penny, Cornelis Spel, Aatje J. Spel-van der Linde, Tom M. Vader, Theodorus J. De Wit
  • Patent number: 5976357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of oil which is contaminated with particles of random density and/or water. A collection polymer or polymer mixture which is insoluble in oil and liquid at room temperature and which has a density which is higher than the oil is added to and mixed with the contaminated oil. The collection polymer and the oil are separated by gravity with or without centrifugation such that the oil forms a top phase and the collection polymer or polymer mixture and the main part of the contaminants form a bottom phase. The bottom phase with the collection polymer and the contaminants is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Separation AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Strom, Bjorn Malarstig
  • Patent number: 5965785
    Abstract: This invention relates to inhibiting corrosion in systems of condensing hydrocarbons which contain water and chlorides, and, more particularly, in the overhead of crude oil atmospheric pipestills, with blends of amines. Preferred blends are 2-amino-1-methoxypropane, sec-butylamine, n-butylamine, dipropylamine and monoamylamine; 2-amino-1-methoxypropane, sec-butylamine, monoamylamine, n-butylamine and isobutylamine; and sec-butylamine, 2-amino-1-methoxypropane and 3-amino-1-methoxypropane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Veronica K. Braden, Paul Fearnside, Christopher J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5885444
    Abstract: A process for thermally cracking waste motor oil into a diesel fuel product is provided. The thermal cracking process uses low temperature cracking temperatures from 625.degree. F. to 725.degree. F. with ambient pressure to generate a column distilled fraction of diesel fuel mixed with light ends, the light ends being flashed off to produce a high quality #2 diesel fuel. The process further provides for removal from the cracking vessel an additional product stream which, when filtered, is suitable for use as a #3 fuel oil and that can be further blended with a bunker oil to yield a #5 fuel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Green Oasis Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Wansbrough, Calvin E. Moore, Jr., William D. Carraway
  • Patent number: 5847248
    Abstract: A process for the conversion of organic sludges, the process comprising the steps of:(a) feeding dried sludge through a first reactor (16);(b) heating the dried sludge in the first reactor (16) in the absence of oxygen for the volatilisation of oil producing organic materials therein, resulting in gaseous products and sludge residue (char);(c) condensing oil from the gaseous products of the first reactor (16) in a condenser system (20);(d) reinjecting water free oil and/or non-condensable products, if any, into a second reactor (24);(e) transferring the sludge residue (char) from the first reactor (16) to the second reactor (24);(f) contacting the heated sludge residue from step (b) in the second reactor (24) with the oil and/or any non-condensable products of steps (c) and (d) in the absence of oxygen to allow the generation of clean products and a high quality oil product; and(g) removing the gaseous products from the second reactor (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Environmental Solutions International Ltd.
    Inventors: Trevor Redvers Bridle, Stefan Skrypski-Mantele
  • Patent number: 5814207
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-refining used oil, in which the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a void evaporation chamber (4) into which feedstock is tangentially injected, and in which a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser (7) communicating with the evaporation chamber (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Enprotec International Group N.V.
    Inventor: Kalevi John Kenton
  • Patent number: 5795462
    Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming a useful oil product has an evaporation chamber, including an inlet for the waste oil, and an outlet for the vaporized oil, as a useful oil product. Burners are provided for heating the evaporation chamber to vaporized oil from the waste oil. A pump and float arrangement are provided for monitoring the level of waste oil in the evaporation chamber, and for pumping additional waste oil into the chamber to maintain the waste oil at a desired level. Continuous operation of the apparatus results in a build up of solid waters, e.g. heavy metals, in the chamber. After a period of operation, the burners are turned off, and the chamber opened, to enable the solid residue to be removed from the chamber. The vaporized oil can be condensed and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Patent Holdings Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward Calton Shurtleff
  • Patent number: 5766412
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for reducing the amount of waste water and recovering reusable constituents from a waste stream comprising at least two constituents having different relative volatilities. The system includes a vapor thermocompression evaporator, into which the waste stream is directed, to vaporize one of the constituents within the waste stream without appreciably vaporizing other constituents in the waste stream. The vapor thermocompression evaporator also has a vapor compressor for compressing the vaporized fraction of the first constituent and delivering this compressed vaporized fraction to transfer heat to the waste stream. The system further has a film evaporator in series with the vapor thermocompression evaporator which transfers heat to the stream after it leaves the vapor thermocompression to vaporize substantially all of the first constituent without appreciably vaporizing the second constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Recovery Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jay M. Railey
  • Patent number: 5759385
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and plant for purifying spent oil, comprising dehydration, preferably by atmospheric distillation, directly followed by vacuum distillation producing a residue and at least one distilled oil fraction. The vacuum residue directly undergoes solvent extraction and the clarified oil obtained and the distilled oil fraction(s) undergo finishing hydrotreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Marcel Aussillous, Patrick Briot, Pierre-Henri Bigeard, Alain Billon
  • Patent number: 5753126
    Abstract: The Corona Inception Voltage of insulating oils is increased by repetitive cycles of prestressing the oil with a voltage greater than the corona inception voltage, and either simultaneously or serially removing byproducts of corona by evacuation and heating the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald J. Rohwein
  • Patent number: 5750052
    Abstract: Methods for controlling foam in hydrocarbon liquids within hydrocracking unit separator systems utilizing alkylphenolformaldehyde resin alkoxylates with a propylene oxide/ethylene oxide block copolymer having a molecular weight of from about 2000 to 6000 and having from about 20% to about 80% ethoxylation or an alkylarylsulfonic acid or alkylarylsulfonic acid amine salt to said hydrocarbon liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: BetzDearborn Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Hart, Michael A. Dion
  • Patent number: 5714664
    Abstract: The disclosure is a process for inhibiting corrosion in condensing systems comprising wet hydrocarbons and chloride which comprises feeding a mixture of amines to the condensing system to elevate the pH profile of condensed water above the range in which severe corrosion of system internals can occur. The amine blend is formulated to preclude deposition and accumulation of the hydrochloride salts of the amines above the water dewpoint and is optimized to the condensing system to minimize amine treat rate. In one embodiment, the amine blend feed rate is controlled using a small condensing system which condenses a slipstream of gas taken from the system upstream of the condensing zone and continually measures the pH profile in the condensing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Paul Fearnside, Christopher J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5707510
    Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner Process Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Patrick Berry
  • Patent number: 5639383
    Abstract: This procedure includes detecting and rejecting the used mineral motor oils containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) and/or polychlorinated triphenyls (PCT's) before filtering; before the decantation and/or distillation step, if necessary, submitting the used mineral motor oil to thermal shock treatment. In the recycling process, stabilizing the used mineral motor oils that normally contain heavy metals by adding to bitumen, using 0 to 15 percent of used mineral motor oil and a minimum of 85 percent bitumen for bituminous pavements and 1 to 20 percent of used mineral motor oils and a minimum of 80 percent bitumen for bitumen emulsions and paints. Also in the recycling process the used mineral motor oils are mixed with bitumen and paraffinic elastomers, stabilizing the heavy metals contained in the used mineral motor oils, getting usual bituminous pavements, self-draining bituminous pavements, sport pavements, etc. EPM EPDM or butyl rubber are used as paraffinic elastomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Ralfer, S.L.
    Inventors: Carlos Gajas Fuertes, Miguel Balada Subirats
  • Patent number: 5527449
    Abstract: Waste lubricating oil, vegetable oil and animal fat are reprocessed into commercially usable diesel fuel and naphtha by thermocracking. A thermocracker unit is fired with sludge removed from the principal pool of oil or fat undergoing vaporization. The vapors are separated from liquids in a primary distillation tower with precisely controlled heating. Resultant vapors are partially condensed. Resultant liquids flow downward through a secondary distillation tower into a reboiler which is heated by a flue gas bypass with an auxiliary burner. Vapors leaving the secondary distillation tower are partially condensed and resultant fluids are passed to a light ends flash tank. Gases from the flash tank fuel the auxiliary burner. Liquids are collected and stored for selling as naphtha. Hot liquids are withdrawn from the reboiler and are immediately cooled to atmospheric conditions. Liquids within specification are stored in a diesel storage tank for further use and sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Stanton D. Brown
    Inventors: Stanton D. Brown, Michael M. Wentworth, Ronald D. Marstaller, Jerry A. Bullin
  • Patent number: 5447628
    Abstract: A used lubricating oil comprising lube oil additives, including zinc dithiophosphate is reconstituted. Zinc dithiophosphate is thermally decomposed at a temperature of 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.) to 1000.degree. F. (538.degree. C.) for a residence time of 10 to 120 minutes. The resulting oil is subjected to vacuum distillation. A zinc-free (i.e. ash free by ASTM D-482) oil is stabilized by catalytic hydrogenation or clay treating to produce a lubricating oil blending stock. About 5 to 25 vol % is recovered as a metal containing bottoms product, useful as asphalt extender. The process is carried out in the absence of chemical demetallizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Harrison, Arthur G. Gorneau, Robert M. Steinberg, Bruce R. Bond
  • Patent number: 5389299
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for controlling foam in high temperature hydrocarbons during processing animal oils, exemplified by mink oil, are added to the hydrocarbon to control foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Betz Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Hart
  • Patent number: 5384037
    Abstract: A process for the production of a distillable hydrocarbon product stream from a first distillate hydrocarbon stream, a second distillate hydrocarbon stream and a waste lubricant stream by means of contacting the waste lubricant stream with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of this feed stream and vaporize at least portion of the distillable hydrocarbonaceous compounds thereby producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream which is immediately hydrogenated in an integrated hydrogenation zone. The vaporized waste oil stream is admixed with a first distillate hydrocarbon stream before introduction into the hydrogenation zone. The second distillate hydrocarbon stream is converted in a hydrocracking conversion zone in order to produce lower boiling distillable hydrocarbon products and an aqueous ammonia solution which is admixed with a partially condensed effluent from the hydrogenation zone in order to neutralize at least one acid gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 5382328
    Abstract: For the processing of waste oil, i.e. environmentally safe processing, a process and installation are used whereby the waste oil is preheated with the distillation gases and is then distilled itself by burning the distilled waste oil. The liquid and solid residues are exposed to the flame produced by the combustion of the distilled waste oil, while the gaseous residues are heated to over 1,200.degree. C. in a long-hold chamber constructed as a fume incinerator. In order to calcine the solid or burn the liquid residues, they are collected in the distillation chamber and transported via a rotating cylinder and a chute into the combustion chamber where they are then correspondingly calcined by the burner flame. In contrast, the gaseous residues are fed to a long-hold chamber, whereby the latter is a pipe system with a length of 75 m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventors: Gerd Drespa, Heinz-Gunter Rittscher
  • Patent number: 5362381
    Abstract: Waste lubricating oil is reprocessed into commercially usable diesel fuel and naphtha by thermocracking. A thermocracker unit is fired with sludge removed from the principal pool of oil undergoing vaporization. The vapors are separated from liquids in a primary distillation tower with precisely controlled heating. Resultant vapors are partially condensed. Resultant liquids flow downward through a secondary distillation tower into a reboiler which is heated by a flue gas bypass with an auxiliary burner. Vapors leaving the secondary distillation tower are partially condensed and resultant fluids are passed to a light ends flash tank. Gases from the flash tank fuel the auxiliary burner. Liquids are collected and stored for selling as naphtha. Hot liquids are withdrawn from the reboiler and are immediately cooled to atmospheric conditions. Liquids within specification are stored in a diesel storage tank for further use and sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Stanton D. Brown
    Inventors: Stanton D. Brown, Michael M. Wentworth, Ronald D. Marstaller, Jerry A. Bullin
  • Patent number: 5316743
    Abstract: A portable refinery including a refining vessel, a heater for providing heat to the refining vessel, dewatering devices, and a storage tank mounted on a skid which can be quickly and easily transported to a reservoir of petroleum or waste petroleum products to refine the petroleum or waste petroleum into diesel grade fuel at the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventors: Ralph W. LeBlanc, Robert M. Bingham
  • Patent number: 5314613
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the decontamination of oil includes providing a jet compressor having a converging section in which high velocity liquid oil compresses a source of atmospheric pressure gas, a central mixing section that intimately mixes the liquid oil with the gas for providing a large gas and oil surface area for the mass transfer of water from the liquid oil, and a diverging section in which the liquid oil and gas are further mixed during pressure recovery. A tubular member is connected to the diverging section to provide a residence time chamber immediately downstream of the diverging section to increase the efficiency of the rate of transfer of water from the liquid oil to the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Gaetano Russo
  • Patent number: 5306419
    Abstract: A used lubricating oil comprising lube oil additives, including zinc dithiophosphate is subjected to reclaiming. Zinc dithiophosphate is thermally decomposed at a temperature of 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.) to 1000.degree. F. (538.degree. C.) for a residence time of 10 to 120 minutes. The resulting oil is subjected to vacuum distillation. A zinc-free (i.e. ash free by ASTM D-482) distillate oil is useful as marine diesel fuel. About 5 to 25 vol % is recovered as a metal containing bottoms product, useful as asphalt extender. The process is carried out in the absence of chemical demetallizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Harrison, Arthur G. Gorneau, Robert M. Steinberg, Bruce R. Bond
  • Patent number: 5302282
    Abstract: A process for the production of high quality lube oil blending stock from atmospheric fractionation residue and waste lubricants by means of contacting the waste lubricant with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of this feed stream to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable hydrocarbonaceous compounds thereby producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream which is immediately hydrogenated in an integrated hydrogenation zone. The vaporization of the waste oil is also conducted in the presence of an asphalt residue which is produced in the integrated process. The resulting effluent from the integrated hydrogenation zone provides at least one high quality lube oil blending stock stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Steven P. Lankton, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5259945
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of tank bottom wastes employing a flash tank fed with hot, pressurized tank bottom wastes and separating a vapor component and heavier bottoms then fed to a stripping reactor along with hot gas producing an overhead vapor with a solid remainder. Such remainder is alternatively fed to a pyrolyzing reactor at elevated temperatures producing vapors with a solid residue. The vapor streams are used with a regenerative heat exchanger to heat said tank bottom wastes to a temperature appropriate for entering the flash tank. Certain recycled material is employed as fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventors: Lyle A. Johnson, Jr., Robert M. Satchwell, Ronald R. Glaser, Lee E. Brecher
  • Patent number: 5223152
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for dewatering a recovered oil stream prior to the recovered oil stream being fed to a fractionator for reprocessing into product s rea s uses a blowdown drum controlled like a drstillatron tower so that the bottoms temperature of the blowdown drum is maintained at a temperature above the dewpoint temperature of the water in the blowdown drum by a reboiler. For refineries that contain a delayed coker unit and a coker fractionator which is used for fractionating light products from residual oil serving as coker feedstock, which coker fractionator is also used to fractionate recovered oil containing water and hydrocarbons, a coker blowdown drum is controlled to maintain an appropriate bottoms temperature to achieve separation in the blowdown drum of water from the hydrocarbons in the recovered oil stream, and the blowdown drum is thus used for dewatering the recovered oil before it is fed to the coker fractionator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Douglas A. Freymeyer, J. Paul Love, Richard L. Holloway, Daniel L. Torres, Alfred G. Brosman
  • Patent number: 5141628
    Abstract: Used oils, especially used lube oils, after rough filtering are mixed with an aqueous solution of water glass and an aqueous solution of polyalkylene glycol while stirring at elevated temperature, the obtained mixture is allowed to settle, the settlings are separated, and water and light ends are removed from the oil phase by distillation. The thus obtained dry oil phase may be subjected to adsorptive filtering either direct or through a per se known treatment with dispersed sodium and may finally be fractionated by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: RWE-Entsorgung Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich-Klaus Martin, Adekunle Onabajo
  • Patent number: 5102531
    Abstract: A process for treating a hydrocarbonaceous feed stream containing a non-distillable component to produce a distillable hydrocarbonaceous product and a heavy product comprising the non-distillable component while minimizing thermal degradation of the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream with a hot first hydrogen-rich gaseous stream having a temperature greater than the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream in a flash zone at flash conditions without indirect heat exchange thereby increasing the temperature of the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream and vaporizing at least a portion thereof to provide a hydrocarbonaceous vapor stream comprising hydrogen and a heavy product comprising the non-distillable component; (b) removing the hydrocarbonaceous vapor stream comprising hydrogen from the flash zone without contacting the vapor stream with hydrocarbonaceous liquid; (c) condensing at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous vapor stream comprisin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5049258
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for reprocessing contaminated oils, such as used crankcase oil from automobile engines, by thermal treatment, such as visbreaking, in the presence of other hydrocarbon feedstocks, followed by fractional distillation for the recovery of a gasoline fraction, a carboxylic acid fraction, a gas oil fraction containing chlorinated hydrocarbons and a high boiling bottoms fraction. The gas oil fraction is subjected to catalytic hydrocracking with the simultaneous destruction of chlorinated hydrocarbons. The resulting hydrocracked oils, after separation of hydrogen chloride, are free from chlorine compounds and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: RWE-Entsorgung Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl H. Keim, Peter Seifried, Hartmut Hammer, Ralf Wehn
  • Patent number: 5045179
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogenation process for reprocessing used oil into secondary raffinates in the form of lubricating oils. In this process according to some embodiments of the invention, ecologically undesirable byproducts or waste materials are eliminated, without requiring expensive and time-consuming separation stages or reaction conditions, or the use of expensive catalysts. In particular, even severely contaminated oils, i.e. those which contain organo-chlorine compounds, in particular PCB, chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurane in concentrations above certain limits, can also be reused as secondary raffinates, in particular as lubricating oils. No longer need these substances be destroyed in a high temperature combustion process, for example. As a first step, the coarse solid substances are removed from the used oil. Thereafter, with the addition of hydrogen, a hydrogenation step is conducted in a sump phase at predetermined pressures and temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Ruhrkohle AG
    Inventors: Josef Langhoff, Alfons Jankowski, Harald Weber
  • Patent number: 5028313
    Abstract: A process for treating a hydrocarbonaceous feed stream containing a non-distillable component to produce a distillable hydrocarbonaceous product and a heavy product comprising the non-distillable component while minimizing thermal degradation of the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream with a hot first hydrogen-rich gaseous stream having a temperature greater than the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream in a flash zone at flash conditions without indirect heat exchange thereby increasing the temperature of the hydrocarbonaceous feed stream and vaporizing at least a portion thereof to provide a hydrocarbonaceous vapor stream comprising hydrogen and a heavy product comprising the non-distillable component; (b) removing the hydrocarbonaceous vapor stream comprising hydrogen from the flash zone without contacting the vapor stream with hydrocarbonaceous liquid; (c) condensing at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous vapor stream comprisin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4968410
    Abstract: System for recovering purified oil from a mixture of oil, water, and solid particles; comprising allowing the mixture to settle while heating to about 160.degree. F. to form a lower water layer and an upper oil layer; pumping off the water layer and passing it through a strainer to separate solids; pumping off the oil, passing it through a strainer to remove solids, heating the strained oil and passing it through a purification step including filtering fine solids, heating the oil to vaporize any volatile components, and separating the vapors so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Electrolube Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Lester L. Johnson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4941967
    Abstract: Process for re-refining spent lubeoils, wherein a lubeoil freed from water and sludge forming impurities is subjected to a pre-destillation at reduced pressure and with a short residence time of the oil in the distillation column and is subsequently subjected to film evaporation under vacuum, in one or more wiped-film evaporators wherein the overhead product obtained with the film evaporator is subjected to an after-treatment after condensation and the heavy bottom product (residue product) of at least one film evaporator is at least partially recycled to the entrance of said film evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Kinetics Technology International B.V.
    Inventors: Leonardus M. M. Mannetje, Ashok S. Laghate
  • Patent number: 4894140
    Abstract: Waste oil is treated in a tubular reactor having a length of up to and in excess of 2 km in a plurality of stages each of which involves heating the product to a different temperature and maintaining the product at a different pressure. The released fractions are evacuated from the path for the flow of waste oil and are immediately condensed and distilled to yield a variety of products from oil having a low boiling point to coke. One or more withdrawn fractions can be treated (for example, hydrogenated) in one or more discrete tubular reactors. The heating can involve raising the temperature of waste oil to several times the critical cracking temperature, and the regulation of pressure can involve a reduction of pressure to less than 1 mbar. The last stage of the reactor can be cleaned by abrasive particles, by vibration at high frequencies and/or by acceleration of the conveyed stream to an elevated speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventor: Christian O. Schon
  • Patent number: 4839021
    Abstract: A method of producing pyrolytic oils suitable for petroleum reprocessing is disclosed. According to the invention, petroleum derived organic sludges or oil residues in a solid/liquid phase are subjected to vacuum pyrolysis under temperature and sub-atmospheric pressure conditions such as to prevent gas and vapor phase secondary cracking reactions and to thereby increase the yield of pyrolytic oils to the detriment of hydrocarbon gases. About 97% of the organic matter content of the sludges and about 75% of the organic matter content of the oil residues can be converted into pyrolytic oils suitable for petroleum reprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Recherche Carbovac Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Roy
  • Patent number: 4834868
    Abstract: Rerefined used oil supplies are treated on a continuous basis so as to clarify the flow and so as to neutralize oxidation product components such as carboxylic acids which remain within the oil stocks after they have been rerefined by upstream procedures. The process is carried out on a continuous basis, and the treatment includes utilizing very low quantities of strong base for each volume of rerefined used oil that is thus treated. The treatment process includes continuously vacuum distilling a continuous flow of used oil stock and strong base composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Breslube USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis J. Lappin
  • Patent number: 4814044
    Abstract: In a technique for recovering hydrocarbon values from a heavy hydrocarbon-water mixture, the mixture is first delivered through a sub-assembly to remove solid particulates. Then the mixture is delivered through a series of heat exchanger--kettle arrangements in which the mixture is heated above the boiling point of water. Some of the steam formed is allowed to escape through steam removal devices in the heat exchanger. The inside of the heat exchanger includes a plurality of discrete baffles which are unconnected to the heat exchanger and which can be readily removed therefrom. Heating of the mixture continues in the kettles where the bulk of the water is boiled off the mixture. A heavy hydrocarbon oil is recovered in the liquid outlet from the last kettle. The vapors boiled off are recovered and condensed to recover a light hydrocarbon oil and quite pure water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Inventor: Franz A. Hitt
  • Patent number: 4797198
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the working up of salvage oil, in which the salvage oil is subjected to an extraction under supercritical conditions. The halogen compounds contained in the produced extract are removed by catalytic hydrogenation. The extraction residue is eliminated by deposition or thermal treatment (gasification). In the case of a thermal treatment of the extraction residue, other residues can be simultaneously converted, so that the process is performed without yield of environmentally burdensome residues or by-products. Ethane in particular and/or propane is employed as solvent for the supercritical extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Krupp-Koppers GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Wetzel, Hubert Coenen, Winfried Kreuch
  • Patent number: 4784751
    Abstract: Contaminated oil is reclaimed for fuel use by pumping same through an oil filter into one side of a divided tank then through a heater to burn off water and antifreeze and then into the other side of the divided tank where the oil is blended with other clean oil, such as diesel fuel, which is then pumped through a water separator and another oil filter into a fuel supply tank from which it is pumped and used for blending. The divided tank is mounted on wheels and carries the various components such as pumps, heater, valves, piping, filter and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Keller Machine Works
    Inventor: Ronald R. McGehee
  • Patent number: 4666587
    Abstract: A finished oil product is recovered from crude or waste oil contaminated with water and the like by heating the waste oil in a tank with a heating flame which may be gas or oil fired. The waste oil is heated until vapors including light ends and the desired finished oil product are produced from the waste oil within the tank. The vapors are introduced into the heating flame so that additional heat is developed by such afterburning to heat the waste oil in the tank. The finished oil product as recovered from the waste oil is discharged from the tank by a suitable outlet pipe arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Aaron Seligson
    Inventor: Charles K. Martin
  • Patent number: 4623447
    Abstract: Middle phase emulsions are broken by subjecting the emulsion to a first atmospheric distillation step to remove water, followed by a second vacuum distillation step to recover oil. The residue contains the surfactant. The atmospheric distillation is generally carried out by steam distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Pennzoil Company
    Inventors: Bert H. Clampitt, Asoke K. Deysarkar, Thomas D. Westmoreland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4522707
    Abstract: A method for processing a used oil which comprises about 70 percent by weight spindle and neutral oils, about 5 percent by weight lower and higher boiling point oils, about 10 percent by weight useful additives and oxidation products, about 10 percent by weight water, about 5 percent by weight difficultly volatile and nonvolatile hydrocarbons, and solid impurities, comprising: (a) dewatering the used oil; (b) contacting the dewatered used oil with a gas in a supercritical state, at a temperature above the critical temperature and at a pressure from its critical pressure up to about 350 bar to form (1) a gaseous extraction phase containing the spindle and neutral oils and the additives, the spindle and neutral oils and substantially all the additives being extracted into the gaseous extraction phase during the contact with the supercritical gas and (2) an extraction residue; (c) separating the gaseous extraction phase from the extraction residue; and (d) separating the extracted spindle and neutral oils and th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Fried. Krupp Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Ernst Kriegel, Hubert Coenen
  • Patent number: 4512878
    Abstract: Used oils, especially used lubricating oils which are normally considered waste and are discarded or burned, are reclaimed for reuse by a re-refining procedure involving the steps of:(a) heat soaking the used oil;(b) distilling the heat soaked oil;(c) passing the distillate through a guard bed of activated material;(d) hydrotreating the guard bed treated distillate under standard hydrotreating conditions.If the used oil to be re-refined contains a quantity of water and/or fuel fraction which the practioner considers sufficiently large to be detrimental, the used oil may be subjected to a dewatering/defueling step prior to being heat soaked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Lloyd E. Reid, Keith C. Yao, Douglas G. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4504383
    Abstract: Used oil is rerefined utilizing borohydride reducing agents. The borohydride reducing agent contacts the used oil in an aqueous solution, for example. Contact with the borohydride reducing agent may occur before, during or after distillation or evaporation of the used oil. The disclosed method reduces the concentration of carbonyl compounds and metals and reduces the corrosion characteristics of used oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Delta Central Refining, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard H. O'Blasny
  • Patent number: 4498992
    Abstract: A process for treating contaminated transformer oil which comprises heating the contaminated transformer oil in a first heater to a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 125.degree. F., passing the heated contaminated oil from the first heater through an adsorber containing Fuller's earth of about 30 to 60 mesh particle size, conducting the treated oil from the adsorber to a chiller where the temperature is reduced to about 50.degree. to 70.degree. F., conducting the treated oil from the chiller to a centrifuge to remove free water, conducting the treated oil from the centrifuge to a second heater where the oil is heated to a temperature of about 100.degree. to 160.degree. F. (preferably about 120.degree. F.), conducting the treated oil from the second heater to a degasifier wherein the oil is subjected to a vacuum of about 0.2 to 2 mm of mercury, removing the treated oil from the degasifier and passing it through a polishing filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Petro-Williams Service Company
    Inventor: Luther W. Garrett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4495035
    Abstract: The invention pertains to improvements in a fluid handling system in which a working fluid passes through a rotor while undergoing a pressure change. A shaft extends longitudinally from and rotates with the rotor. A first seal surrounds the shaft in axially spaced relation to the rotor, and a lubricant having a minimum boiling point is injected into the first seal adjacent the shaft at a pressure sufficient to cause the lubricant to flow axially toward the rotor. A housing surrounds the rotor and shaft and defines a contact zone between the rotor and the first seal for receiving both lubricant and a contact fluid such as the working fluid or a seal buffer gas used to isolate the working fluid from the lubricant. The contact fluid has a maximum boiling point substantially less than the minimum boiling point of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: Judson S. Swearingen
  • Patent number: 4490245
    Abstract: A used lubricating oil is reclaimed by vacuum distillation. The bottoms is vacuum pyrolyzed with limestone to form a virtually insoluble coked mass containing insoluble metal carbonates and free metal. This solid coked residuum is suitable for landfilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore C. Mead, James H. Wright
  • Patent number: H581
    Abstract: A process for purifying mineral spirits which have been used to clean Otto uel II propelled torpedoes by heating the mineral spirits to decompose 1,2-propanediol dinitrate and remove hydrogen cyanide and other gaseous decomposition produces, and then distill the mineral spirits from the remaining contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Steven L. Collignon, Dennis R. Knudsen